Zero-Pesticide Sungrown Cannabis
Autumn Brands cannabis has become synonymous with high-quality, zero-pesticide products, becoming the go-to of California’s cannabis aficionados. But the story behind our brand goes deeper than the products on the shelves of your favorite dispensary. Founded by two families, the Brand family and the Shelton family, and united by a shared passion for cannabis, health and wellness, our company has grown through a blend of agricultural experience, business savvy and a commitment to doing things differently.
“Autumn Brands was formed by the passion and knowledge of two families who each brought a unique set of skills,” says co-founder Autumn Shelton. “The Brand family brought decades of hands-on experience and freshly educated expertise in business, agriculture and sales. The Shelton family brought financial and compliance acumen, sales, customer service and deep knowledge about cannabis. We all shared a passion for the cannabis plant, health and wellness and going beyond the status quo.”
While many equate zero-pesticide practices with organic farming, we make a clear distinction, particularly around spraying: Autumn Brands cannabis is spray free.
“For me, the key difference between choosing organic and zero-pesticide is the act of spraying,” says Johnny Brand, co-founder and head of cultivation. “Introducing foreign compounds to the cannabis plant, whether natural or synthetic, could have unintended side effects that we don’t yet understand.
“After years of working in and around cannabis plants that have not been sprayed, when I enter a greenhouse that is still spraying — organic or not — I can smell and taste the pesticides in the air,” Johnny continues. “The presence alone, even after the recommended re-entry time, is noticeable. That justifies the struggle it has been to learn our growing techniques.”
Sustainability is a guiding principle behind Autumn Brands cannabis cultivation, embedded in every aspect of our packaging, farming and production processes.
“From a growing perspective, we try and utilize sustainable farming and production practices to the best of our ability. Our location in Carpinteria, California, allows us to grow year-round,” says Johnny.
“As our planet continues to change, it’s important that we all play a role in preserving it,” adds Autumn. “For us at Autumn Brands, sustainability isn’t an option; it’s a necessity. As Johnny mentioned, the sun is our best friend and we welcome all it can provide. We reuse and recycle all our water and organic waste.
“We are unique in being a zero-pesticide/insecticide farm, which goes beyond sustainability for our planet but also for the human body,” Autumn continues. “Finding child-resistant packaging for cannabis products has its own challenges, but we aim to always use either biodegradable, reusable, or, if that’s not possible, American-made packaging for all our products.”
With four distinct founders bringing unique expertise to the table, we thrive on collaboration.
“My perspective as the grower allows me to get into the weeds,” says Johnny. “Literally, I can focus on the growing.”
“I focus on most things outside the garden, which include overall business strategy, brand strategy, product development and our financial health,” says Autumn. “As a team, we respect each other’s strengths and weaknesses and continue to collaborate by asking questions and keeping each other accountable. Luckily, our founders all share the same core values, allowing us to stay true to our mission and each other.”
“All of us bring something unique to the table,” says Hanna Brand, co-founder and head of sales. “I also work closely with Autumn on marketing and the overall brand presentation of Autumn Brands. My brother Johnny, who has a degree in agriculture and business and I, who studied agriculture with a focus on plant science, collaborate on the growing side of operations. Interestingly, we’ve kind of swapped roles based on our studies, which allows us to better understand each other’s responsibilities.
“Even though I’m not involved with Johnny on a day-to-day basis, we make it a point to go for farm walks with our dad (Hans Brand, the fourth co-founder and CEO of Autumn Brands) and others,” Hanna continues. “These walks help us assess different environmental factors that contribute to our operations. It’s a great way to stay connected and aligned.”
Running the Autumn Brands cannabis farm without using pesticides presents a unique set of opportunities, especially when it comes to pest management.
“One of my main challenges comes from the types of pests and pest pressure that we have,” says Johnny. “Because we use no sprays, some simple pests like whitefly can become a big problem for us when other growers may never even see them. Along with the pests, powdery mildew and botrytis can be easily controlled with spraying. We have to be more creative and have worked out a climate and cultivars that are more resilient.”
As consumer awareness grows, we prioritize transparency at every touchpoint.
“Transparency is key for us,” says Hanna. “One way we keep customers informed is through regular updates about what we’re doing. Additionally, our product labels feature icons that provide insights into our commitment to sustainability, for example, highlighting our zero-pesticides policy. This guarantees honesty and quality in every product we manufacture. We want consumers to feel confident about what they’re purchasing.”
Technology plays an increasingly important role in our operations.
“In the greenhouses, I am always looking for new technology to monitor, track and control climates,” says Johnny. “I use PRIVA, which is globally recognized as the leader in greenhouse technology; we recently upgraded to their newest version. I work with a specialized advisor to monitor and make changes to the system.”
“Innovation is essential for us as we strive to produce high-quality products efficiently,” adds Hanna. “One way we’ve embraced technology is by adopting systems that streamline operations, for instance, platforms that allow retailers to directly place orders without needing manual intervention from us. These tools have made processes smoother for both us and our retail partners.”
Despite rapid growth, the cannabis industry still faces significant hurdles.
“Cannabis is now recreationally legal in countries including Canada, Georgia, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, Uruguay, the Australian Capital Territory in Australia, plus 24 US states, three territories and the District of Columbia in the United States,” says Autumn. “Some of these markets are flourishing while others are struggling to survive.”
According to Autumn, six of the most important issues California’s cannabis industry is facing today include:
“Recently, I really enjoyed listening to the podcast How I Built This with Guy Raz,” says Johnny. “I specifically enjoyed the Athletic Brewing episode because of the story of Bill Shufelt and his idea to make non-alcoholic beer taste good. I feel inspired to keep pursuing our idea of zero-pesticide cannabis and creating a new and exciting segment of the market that conscious consumers can enjoy.”
“I’ve been reading The 5 am Club,” shares Autumn. “It takes you along a fun storyline of a billionaire, entrepreneur, artist and Spellbinder who teaches the characters and the reader how to become more efficient and brilliant in everything you do by starting your day at 5 am. Every day that I wake up at 5 am, work out, meditate/journal and do high-productive work before my kids even wake up, sets my day with a smile and continuous productivity.”
“I’ve been inspired by clinical trials and data-driven research lately,” says Hanna. “There are platforms that allow people to conduct at-home testing while receiving guidance from professionals; I’m currently exploring one myself. It’s fascinating how these ideas can translate into cannabis research. We need more clinical studies in our industry to prove cannabis as medicine with accurate scientific data. This could really help elevate the industry as a whole.”
Looking ahead, we have some exciting developments in the pipeline.
“We’re currently in conversations about some exciting collaborations that we hope to announce later this year,” says Hanna. “Our focus this year has been on maintaining top-notch quality rather than scaling too quickly. We’re also working on product improvements based on consumer feedback; it’s all about refining what we offer to ensure it meets the highest standards.”
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